Vietnam's second satellite Vinasat-2 was put into service on Wednesday after a handover ceremony in Hanoi between the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) and the US satellite builder.

Pham Long Tran, VNPT chairman, said experts from Lockheed Martin has closely checked the satellite system since its launch on May 16, measuring its signals to guarantee stable functions before transferring the satellite to the group for operation, news website VietNamNet reported.

He said the group will provide services with the satellite this month, with Lockheed Martin sending two experts to directly support the group during the first three months of operation.

The company guarantees that the satellite can be used for 15-16 years.

The satellite went into orbit nearly 36,000 kilometers from the earth on May 16, to coordinate with Vinasat-1, Vietnam's first satellite launched in 2008. It is expected to boost development of the country's telecommunication industry, giving more space data backups and thus consolidating the industry's security.

Its capacity is said to be the equivalent of 13,000 phone or Internet lines, or around 150 television channels. It is equipped with 24 transceivers while the first one has 20.

Vinasat-2 is also designed with technical solutions allowing it to expand its coverage and provide services to people in remote areas, islands and those in nearby countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

VNPT officials said the satellite's investment of around US$260 million can be recouped in ten years.